Latest news with #VEXRoboticsWorldChampionship
Business Journals
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
VEX Robotics World Championship sparks talent acquisition, community building and economic growth in St. Louis
In 2026 and 2027, St. Louis will welcome the world's brightest young innovators as the VEX Robotics World Championship takes over America's Center Convention Complex, bringing more than 2,000 teams of student competitors from more than 60 countries to the heart of downtown. 'Events like the VEX Robotics World Championship are a win on every level – they energize our hotels, restaurants and attractions while affirming St. Louis as a top-tier destination for international conventions,' Ed Skapinok, chief commercial officer at Explore St. Louis, says. 'Explore St. Louis' effort to secure the competition for two years will bring tens of thousands of visitors to the region each year, create jobs and inject millions into our economy.' expand Beyond economic activity, events like the VEX Robotics World Championship build lasting social capital. They inspire local students to pursue STEM careers, highlight the region as an innovation hub and even encourage international participants to consider St. Louis universities for future education. 'Whether in classrooms or competitions, our robotics, drone and workforce programs provide a unique learning environment that fosters creativity, problem-solving and adaptability in a world where technology is constantly evolving,' Dan Mantz, CEO of the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, says. 'Our industry certifications in robotics and pre-engineering continue to expand, equipping students with the skills and credentials needed for future careers in STEM fields.' That's exactly the kind of talent St. Louis wants to attract – and the VEX Robotics World Championship presents a unique opportunity for local employers to engage with it. From middle and high schoolers to university-bound students, the event will bring emerging talent directly into the region's orbit. 'The true value of meetings and conventions goes far beyond the events themselves,' Skapinok says. 'When attendees and delegates come to St. Louis, we hope to influence them as much as they influence us. By facilitating connections between international students and local companies with events like VEX Robotics, we're helping to strengthen the region's workforce pipeline in a meaningful way. 'As St. Louis continues to grow as a destination for global events, what will truly set us apart is our ability to turn those moments into lasting community impact,' he continues. 'You never know how a student competition, keynote session or even a board meeting might inspire someone – or shape the future of an entire generation. That's the power of meetings with meaning.' Large-scale conventions also provide leadership, service and learning opportunities for local businesses and community members. The VEX Robotics World Championship will rely on some 4,000 volunteers, who will serve as greeters, referees and judges while showcasing St. Louis hospitality. 'Many of our best supporters don't contribute dollars,' Mantz says. 'They contribute time.' In preparation, the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation will hold its planning summit in St. Louis from July 20 to 25, during which time the team aims to meet with local business and community leaders to discuss volunteer opportunities and build momentum.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Robo-Hornets make fourth trip to world championships
HARPURSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A local high school robotics team is proving that small rural schools can compete amongst some of the very best youth innovators in the world. Harpursville High School's acclaimed robotics team, the 'Robo-Hornets,' recently returned home from the VEX Robotics World Championship in Texas. 885 teams from all over the world competed in the three-day tournament. The Robo-Hornets made it to the Final 16, ultimately losing in the elimination round. The team qualified for the competition after winning the state title earlier this year. Kalen Kulas is a freshman at Harpursville High School. This is his first year on the robotics team. He said competing in the world championship was nerve-wracking but also very exciting. 'It was really surprising. At states, I didn't expect to make it to worlds. I was more than happy making it to States. I had a great time there, and right at the end, I figured out I'd be able to go because I won the Excellence Award, and that was crazy,' said Kulas. This is the fourth year the Robo-Hornets have qualified for the world championships. Advisor and Coach Bruce Salisbury has been working with the team for ten years. He says he says he is so proud of the students' hard work and dedication that it makes him emotional. He says the kids and their success always come first. 'They constantly work, just their devotion to doing the best that they can. One person at worlds made the announcement that 'You guys are here because we know you give up your weekends, your holidays. The advisors are there late in the hours.' And everybody looked at me and said, 'Yes, that's describing me,' because the kids come first,' said Salisbury. The Robo-Hornets' record this year was 7-3. The team is already working on their robots for next year's season. Horace Mann prepares to say 'farewell' to Principal Peter Stewart Ponies clinch 11th straight win on Baseball and Education Day Healing After Loss helps community members cope with grief Auchinachie donates $1,000 to Whitney Point Civic Association Celebrate the anniversary of Schoolhouse No. 4 with free tour Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Robotics team visits local Elementary school to show off their skills
PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – Three teams from local schools in southern West Virginia visited the VEX Robotics World Championship to showcase their skills a few weeks ago. Straley Elementary, Montcalm High School and Mercer County all returned from the Championship with new knowledge about what to expect next year! There were teams from around 55 countries at the World Championship in Dallas Texas. Some teams did not speak English well, so they used translator apps to communicate. 3 Mercer County Robotics teams headed to world championship in Dallas 'It is really hard to figure out like what to do if you have to, like, pre-planned with the team. But I personally, we went to go talk to the team and practiced with them, so we did it all. But like it's hard to do it when you have practiced with them for the entire year.' The Mercer and Straley Teams visited Princeton Primary to show the younger students what they have to expect if they want to join next year. Communication is key when joining either team. I asked what Team Electro Storm's favorite part about the competition was. 'Probably meeting different people and playing with them because I saw. We saw a lot of different bots.' Next year, the teams say they are ready to bring home the Championship cup back to West Virginia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Cision Canada
29-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
VEX Robotics and RECF Partner with Saudi Federation to Enhance STEM Education in Saudi Arabia
This strategic partnership represents an important step in equipping Saudi students with world-class educational tools and platforms, aligning with the Kingdom's technological innovation and youth empowerment vision. By fostering a culture of STEM excellence, this initiative will open new pathways for students to explore robotics, develop critical skills, and engage in global robotics competitions. "We are thrilled to partner with the Saudi Federation of Robotics and RC Sports to bring the transformative power of robotics to students across Saudi Arabia," said Tony Norman, CEO and founder of VEX Robotics. "This collaboration is about inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving world." VEX Robotics offers a hands-on robotics education solution called the VEX Continuum, designed to engage students from elementary through university levels. The RECF organizes the world's largest global robotics competition, encouraging students to apply classroom learning, develop hands-on problem-solving skills, and collaborate with peers in dynamic environments. "We are honored to partner with VEX Robotics and RECF to enhance the robotics landscape in Saudi Arabia," said Abdullah Alsunaydi, CEO of the Saudi Federation of Robotics and RC Sports. "This partnership supports our mission to cultivate a knowledge-driven society, nurture innovation, and create new opportunities for our youth." The collaboration will focus on expanding access to robotics education by providing teacher training and resources and establishing local, regional, and national competitions. These initiatives inspire students to explore STEM and build confidence in science, technology, and engineering careers. Looking ahead, VEX Robotics, RECF, and the Saudi Federation aim to establish a sustainable ecosystem for robotics education in Saudi Arabia. Through this partnership, students will gain opportunities to compete on the global stage, representing Saudi Arabia in international competitions. About VEX Robotics: VEX Robotics is a leading global educational and competition robotics solution provider. With a mission to inspire through hands-on learning, VEX offers a complete ecosystem of robotics hardware and software designed for engagement from elementary through university levels. About Robotics Education & Competition Foundation: The RECF seeks to increase student interest in STEM by providing accessible robotics-based programs. It manages the world's largest robotics competition, the VEX Robotics World Championship, inspiring critical skills development through hands-on experiences. About the Saudi Federation of Robotics and RC Sports: The Federation promotes technological education within Saudi Arabia through programs encouraging youth participation in robotics that align with the nation's vision for an innovative society. VEX Robotics Media Contact Madeleine Martin FINN Partners [email protected] 224.436.5267 REC Foundation Media Contact Jenn Goonan Rocket Social Impact [email protected] 617.947.0971 SOURCE VEX Robotics
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
3 Mercer County Robotics teams headed to world championship in Dallas
PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – The popularity of robotics has taken Mercer County by storm over the past several years. Local organizations commence Operation 'Bag Drag' to assist growing needs in foster care It has grown so much that they now have around 50 different robotics teams within the county. Robotics coaches thank school administrators, as well as their county's excess levy for helping them take these robotics programs to new heights. This growing popularity has even resulted in 4 straight appearances at the world robotics championships by some Mercer County Schools. This year, three Mercer schools will have a team represented in Dallas, Texas for the VEX Robotics World Championship for Elementary and Middle School competitions. 'They get to kind of intermingle and have communication and discussions with people literally all over the world. And so being able to expose them to that kind of culture and those other kind of folks is just like it's invaluable. I think that it's just an opportunity that's just unlike any other,' said Coach Melanie Meachum, of Straley Elementary School. The teams going will be 'Da Jellyfish' – representing Mercer Elementary School, Straley Elementary School's 'Electro Storm', and Montcalm High School's 8th grade team – 'Fire Hydraulics'. Da Jellyfish's coach Matt Bailey explained these programs are all about the kids and their enjoyment of coding and knowledge of robotics. '[My favorite thing is] being able to just build something from scratch and use it to like, do stuff is really fun for me,' said Ethan Wilbur, a 5th grader from Mercer Elementary School. 'Ever since my sister done it and I heard about it, I just loved it,' added Landon Beeman, a 5th grader from Straley Elementary. This will be the second year attending for the team members of Fire Hydraulics. Fire Hydraulics coach William Jennings explained what makes their teams tick. 'Collaboration plays a major role in robotics in general between the kids. The entire competition is about teamwork. I mean, teamwork champions is what you end up being at the end. So collaboration is incredibly important, but it is important between coaches as well. Coaches are improving every year here in Mercer County, and that is just great because it provides a better program for the kids,' said Jennings. Local insurance agent partners with nonprofit to host food and supply drive for cats The emphasis for this year's world competition has been to improve speed for many of the students like Beeman and Wilbur. This competition will take place from May 12 through May 14, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
